Passing On the Gospel

In our country, we are witnessing the consequences of having raised a generation of young people to believe that there is no God, and that everything has resulted from random molecular mutations. According to evolution, a bird and a bison share a common ancestor somewhere on the evolutionary tree. Such foolishness! Without people having a healthy respect and fear of God, it’s no wonder that there is a rise in theft, homicides, violence, vandalism, and sex crimes, to name a few.

The Bible tells us what we are to do about it. “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). In addition to asking God to have mercy on our land and to replace our godless leaders with godly men and women, we are to do our part in raising up another generation of people who know and follow Jesus Christ.

I was struck with the importance of this as I started reading Exodus. “Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.” (Exodus 1:8). Instead of appreciating how Joseph had served his country, this new Pharaoh responded, “Joseph, who is that?” As a result, he enslaved all the Hebrews and tried to kill their newborn sons.

God’s word declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). America doesn’t have a lily-white history, but we are still the greatest nation on earth. Our greatness doesn’t lie in our ingenuity, military, or capitalism. Our greatness is a result that, for the most part, this nation has acknowledged God as supreme. However, like so many nations before her, America has turned her back on God.

To turn the tide of humanism, we must follow Moses’ advice. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:4–7)

Asaph took his advice. “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.” (Psalm 78:3–7)

I have often made the psalmist’s words my own, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:18)

Timothy’s grandma and mom had done a good job of raising him. Paul said, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). From his infancy, Timothy’s upbringing included learning “the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

The task of passing on the good news about Jesus is a parent’s greatest task, but not always a joyful endeavor. Countless parents faithfully lived for Jesus, yet their grown children have rejected the Lord. Other parents came to know Christ after their kids had already left home, and didn’t have the opportunity to raise them to follow Jesus.

Even after they leave home, we must still pray for them. The world they live in is not sympathetic to Christ. But prayer joined with the gospel is our most powerful weapon. Let us work to seeing another generation of whom it’s said, “Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:6)